Carolyn Webb Pigott Ray, 92, of Greenwood, formerly of Itta Bena, passed away Wednesday, June 16, 2021. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at St. John’s United Methodist Church, with interment following at Itta Bena Cemetery. The Rev. Andy Ray and the Rev. Dr. Scott Wright will officiate at the services. Visitation will be at the church from noon until service time. Wilson & Knight Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Carolyn was born on Sept. 1, 1928, in Magnolia to Hollis Fenner Webb Sr. and Susie Varnado Webb. She attended Millsaps College, where she met her husband, Samuel Otis Pigott, and married in November 1948. In 1949, they moved to Itta Bena, where they raised their children, Carol, Sammy and Penny.
Carolyn was the high school library assistant at Leflore County High School. She received her Master’s of Library Science at Delta State University. She was the high school librarian at Pillow Academy until her retirement.
Carolyn married the Rev. Wilson Ray in 1982. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Itta Bena until she joined St. John’s United Methodist Church in her later years. She lived in Itta Bena until the past eight years, when she became a resident of Indywood Glen.
She was lovingly called “Gran” by her family. Carolyn will be remembered as a kind, compassionate and caring person who always saw the good in everyone. She loved to sing and be with her family.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Hollis Fenner Webb Jr.; her first husband, Otis Pigott; her second husband, the Rev. Wilson Ray; and a stepdaughter, Marcia McMurry.
Carolyn is survived by her sister, Sue Gautreaux; sister-in-law, Edna Webb; many close nieces; her two daughters, Carol Morris (Phil) of Greenwood and Penny Russell (Steve) of Kosciusko; one son, Sammy Pigott (Debbie) of Itta Bena; stepchildren Franklin Ray (Kathleen), Andy Ray (Katherine), Guy Ray (Charlot) and their families; six grandchildren, Tamie Burton (Tim), Kim Turner (Shane), Courtney Taylor (Joe), Sam Pigott (Samantha), Melissa Britt (Crump) and Blaine Russell (Christina); nine great-grandchildren, Brittnie Hankins (Chad), Eli Burton, Peyton Turner, Kenzie Turner, Kately Hollis Turner, Steele Taylor, Joie Beth Taylor, Hazel Pigott and Otis Pigott IV; one great-stepgranddaughter, Courtney Flanagan (Hunter); one great-great-grandson, Cohen Hankins; and one great-great-stepgranddaughter, Huntlee Flanagan.
Pallbearers will be Tim Burton, Shane Turner, Joe Taylor, Sam Pigott, Crump Britt, Chad Hankins, Peyton Turner and Eli Burton.
Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or St. John’s United Methodist Church.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.wilsonandknight.com.
